Slime concentrator



June 9, 1925.

S. H, BOYLAN 'SLIME COHCENTRATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1922 3 Sheets-:Sheet 1 June 9, 1925.

s. H. BOYLAN SLIME CONCENTRATOR I Filed Sept. 23, 1922 3 sheetsgsheet 2 unumumjimnmlm H mllllllllllll iii BM June 9,1925. 1,541,246

5. H. BOYLAN SLIME CONCENTRATOR ile Sept 23. 1922 a Sheet -Sheet s Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES q lenses PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL H. BOYLAN, OF JOPL-IN, MISSOURI.

SLIME CONCENTRATOR.

Application'filed September 23, 1922 6 Serial No. 590,105.

To all whom it may concerm Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. BOYLAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at and ore with an excess of water to settle the heavier solids and reduce the volume of water preparatory to the final dressing of the ore for market.

In the present invention, I provide a pizvoted table having a plurality of decks provided with upper surfaces of fabric or rough surfaced material, the decks and table being normally arranged at an inclination to permit slow movement of feed over each deck whereby the ores contained therein will be deposited on the surface of the decks. I further provide means to periodically swing the table to permit a rapid flow of water over the decks to remove the deposited material.

An object/of the invention is the provision of means for automatically tipping the table at. desired intervals.

A further object is the provision of a pair of -discharge outlets communicating with the table in either of its two positions to carry off the normal discharge through one outlet and the deposited material through a second outlet. I

A further obect 1s the provision of an apparatus of this type which is eiiicient in operation, simple in construction, and of great durability.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of my invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a table in normal position, and showing, in dotted lines, the position of thetable when tipped,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view, 7

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an end elevation,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the inlet end of the table,

Figure 7 is a detail view of a portion of the control mechanism,

F lgure 8 1s a similar view of a control member arranged at the inlet end of each deck, and, v

Figure 9 is a detail View of a discharge valve forming a portion of the control mechanism.

7 Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a suitable base or foundation having longitudinal supporting beams 2 arranged thereon. A table 7 is pivotally supported on vertical posts 3, the inlet end normally resting on stops 19 attached to vertical, posts 4. The upper ends of these posts are connected by suitable bars 5. The posts 3 and 4 are arranged on each side of the table, and each pair of the.

posts are connected adjacent their upper ends by transverse members 6. The table is substantially box-shaped and provided with hearing member 8 on its lower surface. This bearing member is adapted to receive a shaft 9, rotatably mounted'in suitable openings in the posts 3. Thegtable is provided with partial side walls 10, and within these walls are provided trays 11 forming the decks. A plurality of decks may be employed, the decks being suitably space from each other and arranged substantiallyparallel to the bottom of the table. Each of the decks is provided with a suitable covering 12 of fabric or other rough. surfaced material, retained in position by lon- 9 gitudinal strips 13. The ends of the decks adjacent the inlet are provided with extensions 14, arranged in stepped relation as shown, and suitable end walls 15 are arranged at' the outer ends of each of the extensions. A. transverse member 16 is an ranged at the inlet of each deck, and these transverse members are provided witlr a plurality of openings 17 for the passage of the feed for the deck. By reference to Figure 8 0f the drawings, it will be seen thatthe extensions 14 and the vertical members 15 and 16 form troughs 18 for distributing the feed on the decks.

The feed is delivered from a supply flexible tube communicates with a transverse pipe 22 arranged at the inlet end of the table and supported on longitudinal either direction.

members 28, secured to the side Walls of the table. The transverse pipe 22 is closed at one end and conimimicates with a longitudinal pipe 24:, arranged substantially centrally of the table and inclined to pass over the troughs 18. A header 25 is arranged over each trough and is provided with suitable openings 26, controlled by any desired type of valve and adapted todischarge into the respective troughs. V

The outlet end of the table is provided with an oitset lower wall 27 which inclines toward the center, as shown, (see Figure 2) and has an outlet opening 28. The decks 11 terminate inwardly of the end wall 29, forming a space 30 above the inclined lower wall to permit free flow of the material to the outlet opening. When the apparatus is in normal position, the waste material passes through the outlet opening 28 to a trough 81, whence it is conveyed to a waste launder.

The apparatus for periodically tipping the table consists of a receptacle 32, arranged beneath the table adjacentthe outlet end and secured thereto. This receptacle is pro-' vided with an inlet opening 33, arranged on one side and is adapted to be connected to a reservoir 34-, arranged at a suitable elevation by a flexible tube 35. As shown, a control valve 236 is arranged at the outlet of the reservoir. The receptacle 32 is provided with an outlet pipe 87, disposed on the opposite side to the inlet opening and communicating with a valve casing 88, shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. The valve casing is provided with a valve seat 39, adapted to receive a valve 40, normally retained in closed position by a spring 41. The valve is provided with a stem 4-2, projecting through the valve casing and connected to a pivoted lever 43. This lever is pivoted in a suitable bracket ll, arranged on the valve casing and is provided with an offset lower end as. A discharge pipe 46 is arranged beneath the valve, and is provided with a projection 47, adapted to engage the valve stem when the table is in loweredposition, to open the valve and permit discharge of liquid from the receptacle 32. A chute 48 is arranged adjacent the outlet end of the table beneath the chute 31 and is adapted to communicate with the outlet opening 28 when the table is in lowered position (see Figure 1). As shown, the chute is provided with side walls 4-9, having an inner edge 50, curved on a radius from the center of shaft 9 so that the end of the outlet 28 will properly pass over the Wall of the chute when the table is raised and lowered.

At the inlet end of the machine, there is provided an apparatus to cushion the table when striking the stop when it swings in This apparatus as shown, consists of an air cylinder ,51 having a flange hat the bottom with apertures therethrough upper end. This collar is provided with apertures for the reception of flexible cables 55, the other end or" each of said cables being attached to the bottom of the table 7 I as shown. iwo small air cocks 56 are mounted in said cylinder and communicate with the air chamber to regulate the ingress and egress or" the air to and from the cylinder. As shown, one of the cocks is arranged adjacent the top or the cylinder, and the other adjacent the bottom. A block 57 is attached to the lower side of the table 7 to contact with the upper end of the piston rod during the return of the table to normal position when in operation.

In operation, the slime is constantly ted to the decks from the reservoir through the flexible tube 22, thence through pipe 22, pipe 2st, and headers to the troughs 18. From the troughs 18, the material passes through the openings 17 in the transverse members 16 to the decks. When the table is in its normal position, there is a very slight incline from the inlet end of the table to the outlet end, and the slime flows over the decks very slowly, depositing the line ores and solids contained therein on the fabric 12. 'llhe-weight of the parts on each side of the shaft 9 is distributed to normally retain the deck in its operative position when the reservoir 32 is empty. The

reservoir is of such size that the weight of a body of water suflicient to fill it is also sufiicient to overbalancethe table and water flowing from the reservoir 34 through the flexible tube 85 fills the lower reservoir 32 at desired intervals and tips the table. The rateoi flow of water to the reservoir 32 may be controlled by valve 36 and thus the tipping intervals may be regulated at will.

In normal operation, the material passing from the decks enters the space and then flows through the outlet 28 to the chute 31 which conveys .it to the waste launder. lVhen the reservoir 32 fills with water and the table is tipped, the outlet 28 communicates with the trough or chute 48, whichconveys the deposited material to a desired point. lVhen the table is in the tipped position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, the rate of flow is materially increased, and the deposited ores are washed from the fabric surface of the decks into the chute 48.

As the table lowers, the valve is opened by the contact of the valve lever l3 and projection 47, discharging the contents of receptacle 82 into the pipe 46. This removes the additional weight from the out- A collar 54 is securely attached to said piston rod near its let end of the table and the table returns to normal position. As the inlet end of the table lowers, it contacts with the stops 19 which retain it in its proper position;

When the table is in normal position, the piston 52 is depressed to its lowest position and the cables 55 are slack, but when the table periodically tips forward, the inlet end is raised unimpeded until about one-half its elevation is attained when the cables become taut and the piston is drawn upwardly against the air in the upper part of the cylinder which is gradually forced out through the air cock preventing any violent shock or movement of the table while discharging its load; when the return move ment of the table is begun, it is unimpeded until about one-half the descent of the inlet end is attained when the block 57 on the under side of the table 7 contacts with the upper end of the piston rod 53, forcing it downwardly against the air in the lower end of the cylinder. The air is gradually forced through the lower air cook. The passage of the air through the air cocks may be regulated at will so that there is no perceptible jar in the movement of the table.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

' cl aim said upper discharge member forming asubstantial continuation of said outlet and normally communicating therewith, and means for tipping said table at intervals to bring the outlet end into communication with said lower discharge member.

2. In a device of the character described, a pivotally unitary mounted table, a plurality of decks arranged on said table, inlet troughs arranged at one end of said decks, a header rigidly carried by said table and adapted to feed material to said troughs, transverse members arranged between said decks and said troughs adjacent said troughs, said members being provided with a plurality of openings, and means for tipping said table at intervals.

3. In a device of the character described, a pivotally mounted table, a plurality of decks mounted on said table in spaced relation, each of said decks being. arranged inwardly of the next lower decks at the inlet end of the trough, forming a plurality of stepped inlet chambers, a header communieating with each of said chambers, the outlet end of said table being provided with a lowered discharge opening, and means for tipping said table at intervals.

4. In a device of the character described, a pivotally mounted unitary table divided horizontally to form a plurality of spaced decks, inlet troughs arranged at one end of said decks, a header adapted to feed material to said troughs, transverse members arranged between said decks and said troughs, said members being provided with a plurality of openings, means for tipping said table to a predetermined inclination at predetermined intervals, and means for lessening the speed of said table as it reaches the limits of the downward and upward movements.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. BOYLAN. Witnesses:

CLARENCE CRAIG, W. J. OWEN. 

